Anambra Election Has ‘Diminished’ IPOB, Says Lai Mohammed

NIGERIA [Insider] — The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammedu has used the just concluded Anambra State election which prompted much tension following the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB’s ‘Boycott Call’ as a measure against the secessionist group, saying they have been ‘diminished’.

According to report, the minister said this while entertaining an interview, he praised the non-involvement of President Mohammedu Buhari in the just concluded election and also acknowledged the trading of money for votes and buying of electorates as being reported with video footage.

Adding his displeasure in the election, the minister also condemned the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to boycott the election.

In his words: “I think what that proved really is that IPOB does not represent the good people of Anambra or any state in the South East. If truly they represented the people, the IPOB propaganda about the election really showed that they are not on ground”.

“The people of Anambra have shown that there is no alternative to democracy and that they believe in one Nigeria and federal system of government. If there are issues to be resolved, let us resolve it. But terrorism and separatism is not the answer.

“I think the Anambra election has sounded the death knell on IPOB because they said the election will never hold. The election has come and gone, the turnout was quite reasonable. Every party competed very competitively and at the end of the day, the people of Anambra have decided who is going to be their governor” he added

Addressing the part of politicians reportedly buying votes and luring electorates to vote, Lai said: “Frankly speaking, I didn’t follow the Anambra election, so, I cannot really talk about vote buying or ballot snatching. What I know that I can speak on is that number one, the Muhammadu Buhari administration provided a level playing field for all and he showed that from the manner he restored the security aides of Governor Obiano”.

“If the people now decide to sell their votes, there is nothing the government at the centre can do but we will continue to drum it and let them understand that vote is the single most powerful weapon they have and once they sell it, they can’t come round again until the next four years to complain about the kind of leaders they have.

“But what I believe is that for us in APC as a government, we want the people of Nigeria to decide the outcome of every election.

“It is not about who is at the centre but we did not follow the temptation to use our muscle. It was quite tempting because we don’t have any governor in the South East but we felt it is only fair for the people to decide their own fate.

Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has called on Nigeria government to set up a date for them to exercise their fate through a referendum which prompted to the secessionist group leadership to declare a boycott strategy ahead of the election which held on 18th November 2017.